When, in the classic Seinfeld episode “Summer of George”, George Costanza finds himself unemployed and out of a relationship once again, he decides to make the summer all about himself – so he will be free to learn how to play frisbee golf and eat right from a whole block of cheese with no consequences.

Summer 2022 is finally here, and our daughters are so excited about camp their emotions are literally busting in our already drama filled home. As kids, it always seemed that the summer was just teeming with endless possibilities. The excitement lately has gotten me thinking how despite now being adults, we sometimes long for those moments of youth where we could do whatever we want, whenever we want, with no consequences or responsibilities – our very own “Summer of George”.

When you work for a student organization like I do, people often assume that you are “off” for the summer. In fact summer is one of our busiest seasons at JGSI, because while campuses are quiet, I and our staff are full steam ahead preparing for our biggest year yet. But despite all the work and familial responsibilities this time of year, summer still feels like it has endless potential – albeit in a different way than when we were kids.

One of the major ideas of Judaism is the imperative to take a step back from our routines to consider the things that matter. Through concepts like Shabbat, the holiday cycle, and the Sabbatical year, Judaism builds down time into our life rhythm. But unlike the English word “vacation” which means “to exit,” i.e. vacate the premises, the Hebrew word “Shabbat” means to stop, to pause, to take a moment. Down time isn’t wasted time nor an escape; it’s the chance to consider our priorities and our potential outside of the frenzy of our daily routine.

This summer we are considering all the amazing potential that JGSI has for the year ahead. Our campus programs are burgeoning and JGSI is on the verge of finally entering the mainstream vernacular of the greater Jewish community. We are also considering the potential of our world’s current challenges and considering our priorities accordingly.

Despite all these responsibilities, it still feels like the “Summer of George” of my youth – because JGSI’s potential feels endless to me. I can't wait to conquer this summer!